Abia State All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders Forum (AASF) has rejected the nomination of Labour Party (LP) or the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members for appointment into the various governing boards/councils of the country’s tertiary institutions.
The forum in a protest letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu stated that apart from the former minister of state for science and technology, Henry Ikoh and APC state secretary, Chijioke Ikpo, the other nominees belonged to either PDP.
In the letter signed by the former minority leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, who is the convener, serving and former lawmakers, and other APC chieftains, the stakeholders appealed to President Tinubu for the names to be withdrawn.
Our correspondent sighted the letter titled: “Nomination Into The Governing Boards/Councils of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria: Request to Withdraw/Remove Abia State Nominees Who Are Not APC Members.”
The letter was copied to the Senate President, Godswill Akpobio; speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; his deputy, Hon. Benjamin Kalu; secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; and national security advisor (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Also copied on the letter is minister of state for labour and employment, Hon. Nkireuka Onyejeocha; the national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; the national vice chairman South-East of APC, Dr Ijioma Arodiogbu; Abia State APC chairman, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu and the 2023 Abia State APC gubernatorial candidate, Ikechi Emenike.
The aggrieved APC members of the forum, who described the inclusion of the names on the list as a typographical error, said leaving them would defeat the essence of party loyalty and political participation.
They further explained that the nominees scorned them, destroyed their billboards and other sensitive materials during the 2023 electioneering campaigns, stood against APC’s victory in the State, and wondered why the nominees would now reap from where they did not sow.
The forum stated that the development has caused apprehension and dissatisfaction within the party circles in Abia and may affect the party’s fortunes in the State, stressing that the opposition is being subtly equipped to win future elections.
The letter reads: “We write with the greatest sense of apprehension as concerned members of the Abia APC Stakeholders Forum (AASF) to inform Mr. President that the recent list published for appointments/nominations into the various governing boards/councils of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria defeats the intention and purpose of Party loyalty and political participation.
“Your Excellency, it is important to draw your most revered attention to the fact that the entire list of over 555 persons nominated into the various boards/councils of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria has only 2 nominees from Abia State who are members of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to wit: Chief Henry Ikoh and Barrister Chijioke Ikpo.
“It is equally important to inform your good office that the other nominees are either members of the Labour Party or the Peoples Democratic Party and not our party members.
“Sir, it may be interesting to note that these nominees are the same people who scorned us during the 2023 electioneering campaigns and stood against our victory in the state, removing the billboards of the President and destroying campaign materials across the entire state.
“Without sounding prolix, it is our position that the publication of the names of these non-party members as board appointees from Abia State in an APC-led government, simply put, is a vent of typographical errors or misprints.
“While we do not want to believe that those names appeared deliberately in the list published, we regret to apprise Mr. President of the serious apprehension the publication has caused within the circles of the party hierarchy in the State.
“On the backdrop of the foregoing, we at this moment appeal to your good office, Your Excellency, to check the names of the nominees from Abia as published to ascertain the party affiliation and loyalty of these individuals and make the necessary corrections.
“Instructively, Mr. President, please note, sir, that the present situation, if not properly addressed and resolved, may stifle the growth of the All-Progressives Congress in the State while equipping the opposition to win the 2027 general election.
“Your Excellency, we make bold to say that the All Progressives Congress, Abia State Chapter is blessed with men and women of great repute who can also be managed and grown without any interference from leaders from other states.
“Sir, without sounding disrespectful to you and other distinguished leaders of our great party, the APC, Abia State Chapter hereby rejects the nominees who are not our members and pleads that in the overall interest of the party in Abia State, these nominees should be withdrawn/removed.
“It is against the law of Nature to reap where you did not sow. Most Abia APC members have, over the years shown dedication to the party despite the difficulty caused by the constant harassment by the same opposition members nominated into the APC-led government. Sir, we believe in your ability and capacity to stand firm in times like this. Please accept the assurances of our highest political regards, Your Excellency.”
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